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Preschool and alternatives?

My sister in law is a teacher, and I value her opinion on education. She told me and my husband that my son needs to attend preschool. Long story short, I'm not impressed with the local preschools and I'm considering hiring a teacher or tutor to work with my son, instead.

you have to do what is comfy for you. I defintitely agree with your SIL, that a start on education starts in the rpeschool years....so anyone who can teach your child (you, someone else) then go for it :).

If you aren't impressed with the preschools in your area, then that's fine. I know that therea re some tutors ot there that could come to your home (Hungtington, etc) but I don't know if they do preschool.

I would look into preschool curriculums yourself and do the teaching from home (seems easier). But, also ensure that you are attending playdates or allowing your child to play iwth others as well! There is a big social component to development that takes practice :)

Why can't you teach him? I wouldnt waste money on a tutor to teach shapes. 8) You've taught him how to feed himself and walk and talk. You can teach him anything he needs to know right now and probably do it better than a stranger. 8)

Preschool isn't as much about learning shapes, colors, letters, and numbers as it's about taking turns, following directions, making friends and fitting into a group environment. A tutor in your home won't be able to teach those things as effectively as they can be taught in a group environment. However, if you don't like the preschools in your area, you could look into other group activities that would teach the same skills. Things like team sports, group skating or swimming lessons, and / or a church youth group / Sunday school.

I'm not sure that a private tutor would offer him the same benefits as going to an actual preschool. If all the schools are crappy, could you find a homeschool group and then while at home you (or the tutor) would be teaching him yourself but then he'd still get the socialiation of the other kids?

When my oldest was preschool age, a few friends and I created our own preschool. Each one of us took a turn and help preschool at our own house - we were responsable for the lessons and the snacks and the songs and stories, etc. But the other weeks, we just had to drop the kids off. That worked very nicely. Do you have a group of moms around you that would want to do that?

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